New problem: The duo of Otis Khan and Easah Suliman might be trying ahead to take Pakistan soccer forward.| Photo Credit: Okay. MURALI KUMAR

Pakistan’s two SAFF Championship outings so far have laid naked the cruel realities. The an identical 4-0 thrashings from hosts India and Kuwait haven't solely ended its match prematurely but in addition revealed how far it's from even mid-level Asian soccer.

Two younger males, nevertheless, need to change that – the England-born duo of Easah Suliman and Otis Khan, each of whom secured clearances in May to play for the nation of their grandparents and are in India for his or her first FIFA-recognised match. For Pakistan, which has been twice suspended by FIFA within the final six years and doesn’t have a sturdy home soccer construction, they're a breath of recent air.

Suliman, a product of the Aston Villa academy, was the primary participant of Asian heritage to captain an English soccer staff, main the nationwide facet on the U-16, U-17 and U-19 ranges. The 25-year-old gained the U-19 Euros (2017), taking part in alongside the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Reece James and Mason Mount, all top-draw Premier League gamers at present.

Otis, 27, got here by means of the Manchester United academy, the place he was within the youth groups (2002-2012). Now, he's at Grimsby Town, within the fourth tier of English soccer. Otis additionally has an Indian connection; his grandfather was born in Delhi earlier than transferring to Faisalabad. Though his coronary heart lies in Pakistan, he hopes to play within the Indian Super League someday.

“I felt this was the right time to bring my knowledge and experience,” says Otis. “In Pakistan, the No. 1 sport is cricket, so most kids go there. But when more foreign players come into the team, it helps the locals. We have got players playing in Portugal, Denmark and England. And all I have been doing is to give my knowledge.”

Suliman, the extra pedigreed of the 2, couldn’t make the development from England juniors to seniors. But he desires to play a transformational position in Pakistan, drawing inspiration from English cricketer Moeen Ali, a fellow Birmingham resident who can also be of Pakistani origin.

“I have met him many times and we are quite close,” Suliman says. “Anyone who plays sport in our city looks up to him. He was part of the IPL-winning team recently (Chennai Super Kings), and is back in the Ashes team. [It] shows that irrespective of your origin, you can achieve at the highest level.”

The SAFF Championship could have come a tad early for the duo, however Otis has his eyes set on the World Cup qualifiers in October. “Pakistan hasn’t ever won one, so that is a big goal,” he says. “If we win that, it will bring a lot more games, investment and funding. It’s a new team and we are trying our best.”